Having just updated my members list, I have noticed that my personal listing does not correspond with that held by FreeBMD. I have read the process for deletion of volunteers and find the 12 month rule to be somewhat long. Would it not be possible to amend the time scale to 3 or 6 months this would give a truer indication of the number of volunteers working on the project. Keith Simpson Gandalf(uk)

I have tested both image servers, my comments are; Public server - It's definitely slower but works fine. Users may be frustrated having to click on so many pages to get to the sheets and then play the guessing game of where the "Mayall" page is somewhere in the I-S list of from 1200 to 2000+ pages. I have never been on 1837 online but if their system is easier users may opt to pay rather than go thru this exercise each time. Would it be possible to target the pages a little better ie 1848D4-Mat-1234.tif 1848D4-Maz-1235.tif (examples) rather than 1848D4-I-S-1234.tif. Surely this would be easier on system resources too?. It took me 7 guesses to finally get to a target name. Another possible improvement, many websites nowadays display multiple list boxes on the first page and hold the data for each in the script code. ie when the type list is selected (1-3 options) the Year list is instantly updated (3 sets of Years) and so on, select the Qtr list (1-4 options) and then go to another page for the huge individual page list. An example site; http://www.auto.co.nz/used.php try selecting a Make which updates Model I randomly selected one Year. After going thru Deaths,1849,Dec ending up here; http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/1849/Deaths/December/LDS-211-000-0951 only to find two files available; 00x0-000.tif - a useless message 0namefix.wbt - garbage All 4 QTRS are the same. What is the point of making this Year available at all . I wonder how many more of these are offered to waste users online time, which with some is costly. Notwithstanding, I'm sure the public will be appreciative of the another free service being available, so well done team. Transcriber server - I find it quite elongated (Password,type,year,Qtr,page#) compared to the simple table we once had. I would have tested further but I kept getting a Gateway Timeout error from the server. Garry Kiwiz Syndicate Co-ordinator ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Mayall To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 8:35 AM Subject: Image servers I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. --

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 16:12:10 +1200, you wrote: > >I have tested both image servers, my comments are; >Public server - It's definitely slower but works fine. Users may be frustrated having to click on so many pages to get to the sheets and then play the guessing game of where the "Mayall" page is somewhere in the I-S list of from 1200 to 2000+ pages. I have never been on 1837 online but if their system is easier users may opt to pay rather than go thru this exercise each time. >Would it be possible to target the pages a little better ie >1848D4-Mat-1234.tif >1848D4-Maz-1235.tif (examples) >rather than 1848D4-I-S-1234.tif. >Surely this would be easier on system resources too?. It took me 7 guesses to finally get to a target name. It would be a HUGE renaming job, and will in any case be redundant as we advance to better ways of accessing scans. >Another possible improvement, many websites nowadays display multiple list boxes on the first page and hold the data for each in the script code. >ie when the type list is selected (1-3 options) the Year list is instantly updated (3 sets of Years) and so on, select the Qtr list (1-4 options) and then go to another page for the huge individual page list. >An example site; >http://www.auto.co.nz/used.php try selecting a Make which updates Model We may look at something like this (it uses Javascript), but we are mindful of the fact that part of the reason for the interface is to punt enough adverts to pay for the service. >I randomly selected one Year. After going thru Deaths,1849,Dec ending up here; >http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/1849/Deaths/December/LDS-211-000-0951 >only to find two files available; >00x0-000.tif - a useless message >0namefix.wbt - garbage >All 4 QTRS are the same. >What is the point of making this Year available at all . I wonder how many more of these are offered to waste users online time, which with some is costly. This is a known issue, and the dummy files are being removed. >Notwithstanding, I'm sure the public will be appreciative of the another free service being available, so well done team. > >Transcriber server - I find it quite elongated (Password,type,year,Qtr,page#) compared to the simple table we once had. >I would have tested further but I kept getting a Gateway Timeout error from the server. This bit is IDENTICAL to the existing facility, you are just accessing it directly instead of via the front end. Once it goes live, you will be going via the front end. -- Dave Mayall

Thanks to John Slann for his reply. I may have not been clear in my query. I have a few barely computer literate transcribers who have great difficulty understanding the processes - and, concomitantly, following instructions. "Talking" them through correctly errors is a mission. What I need to know is whether, if I have a mixture of SpeedBMD and WinBMD filenames in my batches, this causes a problem in upload. Melda Brunette

I have several transcribers who are somehow managing to turn on SpeedBMD filenames for their transcriptions under Options, even though I have asked them to use WinBMD conventions. Some are also having trouble correcting them. Does it matter and does it affect the upload in any way? Melda Brunette Brunette Syndicate

Ian, If I understand what Dave and Allan have said in previous notes, the web pages with the nice green borders are just a front end which enables you to easily get to the scan you want. These pages will REMAIN but will just link to the new servers rather than the old ones. Hence as Dave has said, your transcribers will be unlikely to notice a difference (I believe they only difference will be the change of URL address on the bottom line of Internet Explorer as they move their cursor over the various links). The reason that dave says that nothing has changed is that behind the nice tables and cute green borders the image files are stored in exactly the same way just on a different server. Hope that helps Kevin. -----Original Message----- From: Ian Brooke [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 24 June 2004 06:24 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Image servers Dave, Perhaps I'm totally mis-understanding this concept? When I visit the "existing" download page (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/scan-source2.shtml) I'm first required to select Birth, Marriage or Death and when I do this I get a nice table with a cute green border and the years down one side, Quarter etc and a single link (Usually "All Pages"), I click that and I either get a list of all the scans (pages) available or a superset showing "A-G, H-I" etc. With the new link (http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/) I get a crude list of all the years, I click one of those and I get another set of crude links ("Parent Directory", Births", "Deaths"), I click one of those and I get another crude list of Quarters, I click one of these and I get "Parent Directory", "UKD-01", I click that and I get "Parent Directory", "A-H", "I-S" etc, I click that and I finally get to the list of pages. That's five clicks I've had to do when I previously did two, there's no neat table, and I can see almost no resemblance to the current procedure. I'm also mystified. Everything seems to be changed and yet you say nothing has. Where am I going wrong? Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Mayall To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:09 PM Subject: Re: Image servers On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:27:32 -0600, you wrote: >More seriously could I please comment on the new link for transcribers ( http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ ) - compared to the old download link this one is quite dire and I personally hate it. Please please don't go with this route, I dread the thought of explaining to trannies how to get at a page, I have enough problems with people transcribing the wrong page with the existing method but the new one is just awful. I have to confess that I am utterly mystified by some of the adverse comments about the transcriber download. Why am I mystified? Because this bit is *COMPLETELY* unchanged from the current setup! The existing front-end of a web page that avoids navigating the tree will be maintained, and the vast majority of transcribers will not notice the change. ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== To find out about the FreeBMD project please start at http://FreeBMD.rootsweb.com ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.710 / Virus Database: 466 - Release Date: 2004-06-23

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 23:23:33 -0600, you wrote: >Dave, >Perhaps I'm totally mis-understanding this concept? When I visit the "existing" download page (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/scan-source2.shtml) I'm first required to select Birth, Marriage or Death and when I do this I get a nice table with a cute green border and the years down one side, Quarter etc and a single link (Usually "All Pages"), I click that and I either get a list of all the scans (pages) available or a superset showing "A-G, H-I" etc. > >With the new link (http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/) I get a crude list of all the years, I click one of those and I get another set of crude links ("Parent Directory", Births", "Deaths"), I click one of those and I get another crude list of Quarters, I click one of these and I get "Parent Directory", "UKD-01", I click that and I get "Parent Directory", "A-H", "I-S" etc, I click that and I finally get to the list of pages. That's five clicks I've had to do when I previously did two, there's no neat table, and I can see almost no resemblance to the current procedure. I'm also mystified. Everything seems to be changed and yet you say nothing has. Where am I going wrong? The existing download page is quite simply a front end for the /GUS structure, and that front end will still exist under the new system. -- Dave Mayall

Dave, Perhaps I'm totally mis-understanding this concept? When I visit the "existing" download page (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/scan-source2.shtml) I'm first required to select Birth, Marriage or Death and when I do this I get a nice table with a cute green border and the years down one side, Quarter etc and a single link (Usually "All Pages"), I click that and I either get a list of all the scans (pages) available or a superset showing "A-G, H-I" etc. With the new link (http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/) I get a crude list of all the years, I click one of those and I get another set of crude links ("Parent Directory", Births", "Deaths"), I click one of those and I get another crude list of Quarters, I click one of these and I get "Parent Directory", "UKD-01", I click that and I get "Parent Directory", "A-H", "I-S" etc, I click that and I finally get to the list of pages. That's five clicks I've had to do when I previously did two, there's no neat table, and I can see almost no resemblance to the current procedure. I'm also mystified. Everything seems to be changed and yet you say nothing has. Where am I going wrong? Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Mayall To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:09 PM Subject: Re: Image servers On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:27:32 -0600, you wrote: >More seriously could I please comment on the new link for transcribers ( http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ ) - compared to the old download link this one is quite dire and I personally hate it. Please please don't go with this route, I dread the thought of explaining to trannies how to get at a page, I have enough problems with people transcribing the wrong page with the existing method but the new one is just awful. I have to confess that I am utterly mystified by some of the adverse comments about the transcriber download. Why am I mystified? Because this bit is *COMPLETELY* unchanged from the current setup! The existing front-end of a web page that avoids navigating the tree will be maintained, and the vast majority of transcribers will not notice the change.

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:27:32 -0600, you wrote: >Dave, >I've had a look at the choose.pl and it looks fine to me although I've only tried a small number. I experienced no problems at all although it is as you say a slow and cumbersome route. Although I don't really have any 'complaint' about that, do you really think it is more secure than having something like our search page where people can fill in all the boxes and then click once to get the scan? This would seem a much neater solution - even though they are getting these scans free I feel sure we'll get many comments etc to the Admins list which is not particularly desirable. There is an intention to develop the facility in the very near future. >More seriously could I please comment on the new link for transcribers ( http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ ) - compared to the old download link this one is quite dire and I personally hate it. Please please don't go with this route, I dread the thought of explaining to trannies how to get at a page, I have enough problems with people transcribing the wrong page with the existing method but the new one is just awful. I have to confess that I am utterly mystified by some of the adverse comments about the transcriber download. Why am I mystified? Because this bit is *COMPLETELY* unchanged from the current setup! The existing front-end of a web page that avoids navigating the tree will be maintained, and the vast majority of transcribers will not notice the change. -- Dave Mayall

Hello Dave, Having tried both links I think the balance is right. The transcriber link works extremely fast which is how it needs to be. The general public link works reliably but is slow enough that it should not affect transcribers. Regards Brian Smart > -----Original Message----- > From: Dave Mayall [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: 22 June 2004 15:35 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Image servers > > > I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image > servers appears > to be complete. > > As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for > some additional > testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. > > First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan > downloads work > robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== Want to help FreeBMD? Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Dave, I've had a look at the choose.pl and it looks fine to me although I've only tried a small number. I experienced no problems at all although it is as you say a slow and cumbersome route. Although I don't really have any 'complaint' about that, do you really think it is more secure than having something like our search page where people can fill in all the boxes and then click once to get the scan? This would seem a much neater solution - even though they are getting these scans free I feel sure we'll get many comments etc to the Admins list which is not particularly desirable. More seriously could I please comment on the new link for transcribers ( http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ ) - compared to the old download link this one is quite dire and I personally hate it. Please please don't go with this route, I dread the thought of explaining to trannies how to get at a page, I have enough problems with people transcribing the wrong page with the existing method but the new one is just awful. Ian ----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Mayall To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 8:35 AM Subject: Image servers I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== Want to help FreeBMD? Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Just a note to the list that I have taken on the transcriber who Lisa mentioned, who has sent me about 50 lines of transcription to check. I sent her Anne's comments, which were answered. I now have two transcribers using Excel. I have prepared a two-worksheet Excel file to aid transcribers using Excel to get the headers right on new files. On a front page you fill in boxes as on the WinBMD header. There is a sort of validation in that a coloured warning comes up if one of these fields is blank or incorrectly completed. The appropriate filename is concatenated from the entries in the boxes, as in WinBMD, and the data is transferred to an appropriate layout on the transcribing page. To convert to a suitable file for uploading the transcribing page is saved as a CSV file. Now I just want someone to try it out. Any volunteers? (Apologies to Clive if I am re-inventing his wheel) Jeff --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.708 / Virus Database: 464 - Release Date: 18/06/2004

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 23:07:45 +0100, you wrote: >Kevin > >Although I was not involved in the new link arrangements, I am however >responsible for keeping the > >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/births.html >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/marriages.html >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/deaths.html > >pages up to date via our esteemed Web Page Editor David Gray. > >Other than changing the actual URL's on the respective three Web Pages to >point to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ rather than to >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/GUS/ , these pages will remain unless there are >good reasons to the contrary. They will remain. I will be doing a bulk change later today. -- Dave Mayall

On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 06:02:36 +0200, you wrote: >Hello David, >I am looking forward to the new scan viewing system. One question, which has >probably already been discussed and missed by me; why isn't the scan >selection process a "one page" search facility rather than this "Russian >Doll" system? 1) Providing scans to the general public is quite expensive in bandwidth terms, we need to make sure that we expose them to enough adverts to pay for it. 2) We don't have all the scans, so we need to restrict people's selections. -- Dave Mayall

Hello David, I am looking forward to the new scan viewing system. One question, which has probably already been discussed and missed by me; why isn't the scan selection process a "one page" search facility rather than this "Russian Doll" system? Cheers Steve Gaunt ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Mayall" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2004 4:35 PM Subject: Image servers > I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears > to be complete. > > As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional > testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. > > First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work > robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current > password arrangements apply. > > Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, > allowing the general public access to our scans. > > This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is > however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. > > To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl > > Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. > > Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of > interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online > big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the > information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at > which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and > to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone > out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. > > -- > Dave Mayall > > ---------------------------------------------- > This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Want to help FreeBMD? > Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >

Kevin Although I was not involved in the new link arrangements, I am however responsible for keeping the http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/births.html http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/marriages.html http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/deaths.html pages up to date via our esteemed Web Page Editor David Gray. Other than changing the actual URL's on the respective three Web Pages to point to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ rather than to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/GUS/ , these pages will remain unless there are good reasons to the contrary. Allan Raymond -----Original Message----- From: KSH Double Syndicate <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: 22 June 2004 22:52 Subject: RE: Image servers >Dave, >Both links seem to be functioning VERY well. The performance on the >transcriber links are impressive. The only (very slight) downside I could >comment on is that the quarters are in alphabetical rather than >chronological order. > >The only concern I have is a personal one which can probably be addressed >through PTS but I would appreciate your thoughts. Does FreeBMD maintain a >similar file even if the format is different? > >As part of my corrections system I maintain a file which gives the year and >then for each quarter a single digit (0 or 1) to show if scans are available >for that year/quarter for Births, Marriages and Deaths respectively in the >following format > >1837,000,000,011,011 >1838,011,011,011,011 >1839,001,001,001,001 >1840,101,111,111,111 >1841,111,111,111,111 >1842,111,111,111,111 >1843,101,101,101,101 >.. >.. >.. >2004,000,000,000,000 >2005,000,000,000,000 >2006,000,000,000,000 >2007,000,000,000,000 >2008,000,000,000,000 >2009,000,000,000,000 > >which allows my system to determine if a FreeBMD scan image is available for >me to check. >The previous pages at >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/births.html >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/marriages.html >http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/deaths.html >allowed me to check fairly easily on an ad hoc basis if new scans had become >available > >Your thoughts on how I can easily keep this file up to date would be >gratefully appreciated. > >Kevin S. Howell >FreeBMD Corrections Coordinator >FreeBMD (KSH Double) syndicate Coordinator >UK GRO Indexes on the web at http://freebmd.rootsweb.com >E-Mail [email protected] or >[email protected] > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Dave Mayall [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: 22 June 2004 15:35 >To: [email protected] >Subject: Image servers > > >I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears >to be complete. > >As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some >additional >testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. > >First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work >robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The >current >password arrangements apply. > >Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next >week, >allowing the general public access to our scans. > >This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is >however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. > >To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl > >Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. > >Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of >interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset >1837online >big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the >information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at >which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, >and >to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has >gone >out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. > >-- >Dave Mayall > >---------------------------------------------- >This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net > > >==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== >Want to help FreeBMD? >Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. > >============================== >Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >--- >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). >Version: 6.0.708 / Virus Database: 464 - Release Date: 2004-06-18 > > >==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== >Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > >============================== >Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration >Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

Dave, Both links seem to be functioning VERY well. The performance on the transcriber links are impressive. The only (very slight) downside I could comment on is that the quarters are in alphabetical rather than chronological order. The only concern I have is a personal one which can probably be addressed through PTS but I would appreciate your thoughts. Does FreeBMD maintain a similar file even if the format is different? As part of my corrections system I maintain a file which gives the year and then for each quarter a single digit (0 or 1) to show if scans are available for that year/quarter for Births, Marriages and Deaths respectively in the following format 1837,000,000,011,011 1838,011,011,011,011 1839,001,001,001,001 1840,101,111,111,111 1841,111,111,111,111 1842,111,111,111,111 1843,101,101,101,101 . . . 2004,000,000,000,000 2005,000,000,000,000 2006,000,000,000,000 2007,000,000,000,000 2008,000,000,000,000 2009,000,000,000,000 which allows my system to determine if a FreeBMD scan image is available for me to check. The previous pages at http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/births.html http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/marriages.html http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/deaths.html allowed me to check fairly easily on an ad hoc basis if new scans had become available Your thoughts on how I can easily keep this file up to date would be gratefully appreciated. Kevin S. Howell FreeBMD Corrections Coordinator FreeBMD (KSH Double) syndicate Coordinator UK GRO Indexes on the web at http://freebmd.rootsweb.com E-Mail [email protected] or [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Dave Mayall [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 22 June 2004 15:35 To: [email protected] Subject: Image servers I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== Want to help FreeBMD? Go to http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/Signup.html to find out how. ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.708 / Virus Database: 464 - Release Date: 2004-06-18

I'm pleased to announce that work on the new dedicated image servers appears to be complete. As they are ready early, I'd like to grasp the opportunity for some additional testing, and I'd like to ask Syndicate co-ordinators to assist with that. First and foremost, we need to ensure that transcriber scan downloads work robustly from the new address at http://images.freebmd.org.uk/GUS/ The current password arrangements apply. Secondly, we need to test a new facility which we will be anouncing next week, allowing the general public access to our scans. This access will be via a different route, and will not use passwords. It is however designed to be slower than the transcriber's route. To try it out, please go to http://images.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/choose.pl Any feedback to me please. I may not acknowledge it, but I will read it all. Obviously, the public access facility is going to generate a good deal of interest in the genealogical world (and is probably going to upset 1837online big time), so it would be much appreciated if co-ordinators would treat the information above about the new facility as embargoed until 12:00 Monday, at which time an official announcement will be made to all the FreeBMD lists, and to appropriate wider reading lists and groups. Once that announcement has gone out, it may be freely copied elsewhere. -- Dave Mayall ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net

To all members of The NWL Syndicate just a reminder Please use [email protected] My Freeserve account has been blocked for lack of use, I have only used it for email Many thanks Peter McCabery

I hate to be a killjoy, but I would be a little concerned about the transcriber. If her work is mainly PC based, then transcribing in her lunch hour could contravene her employer's Health and Safety guidelines - for example, I have to take a break away from my PC and do something completely different - not just how I sit but the activities I do - I should rest my eyes for example by not doing close work. The willingness is lovely - but do consider the appropriateness of the activity in relation to her work. -- Anne Lisa Dominey wrote: > > Please see message I have received below from a prospective transcriber. I > am unsure what to advise her, as I know it is possible for FreeBMD to accept > uploads from spreadsheet programmes such as Excel, but don’t know how this > would work. > > > > Please can you advise me if it is possible for this lady to work for us, and > if so, how I can manage her work via Excel. > > > > Many thanks, > > > > Lisa Dominey > > ID4 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------- > > Hi Lisa, I am keen to help with the FreeBMD project. I am currently > transcribing for FreeCEN from microfiche but I also have the ability to do > some transcribing (not via microfiche) on my PC at work during lunch times. > > I would prefer to transcribe Sheffield entries but would be happy to do > other if they are not available. However I will not be able to install any > software onto my PC so I would need a spreadsheet entry system. > > > > Could you let me know if my services are required. > > > > Thanks > > > > Lisa Evans > > (Sheffield) > > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.708 / Virus Database: 464 - Release Date: 18/06/2004 > > > ==== FREEBMD-SYNDICATES Mailing List ==== > Thank you Rootsweb for hosting the FreeBMD project and its mailing lists. See http://www.rootsweb.com/ > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237